Bath cabinet



Oct. 8, 1929. ID 1,730,373

BATH CABINET Filed Oct. 9. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Oct. 8, 1929. R. .1. KIDENEY BATH CABINET Filed Oct. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 8, 1929 PATENT GFFICE ROBERT J. KIDENEY, OF BUFFALO, NEVT YORK BATH CABINET Application filed October 9, 1928.

This invention relates to a bath cabinet and more particularly to one Which is electrically heated for the purpose of heating the body of persons and treating ailments or improving and maintaining the health of persons taking such treatments.

It is the object of this invention to provioe a cabinet of this character which permits of efficiently heating the compartment within the cabinet and thereby promote the treatment of a person; also to provide simple and eliicient means whereby a pan of water may be heated within the lower part of the compartment when it is desired to add steam to the treatment; also to provide a convenient rest for the arms of person within the compartment while being treated and also to so organize the cabinet, its electric heating and steaming means and also the arm supporting means that the same may be compactly folded when it is so desired to store or transport the same and also protect the electric heating and steaming means against damage.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of bath cabinet embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the cabinet.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line Fig. 2.

Figure at is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on line F 2.

Figure 5 a top plan view oi ie cabinet 35 in its folded condition ready for storage or transportation.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary inside view of the cabinet showing the manner in which the water vaporizing device is hold in its folded 10 position when not in use.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the reflectors for one set of electric heating lamps forming part of the bath cabinet.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on line 88 Fig. 8.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The enclosing casing or housing of the 50 cabinet comprises an upright rear wall 10 Serial No. 140,460.

arranged transvcrsel the back of the cabinet and provided with two vertical flanges 11, 12 which project forwardly from opposite vertical edges of the back wall, two upright side walls 13, :lrranged lengthwise on opposite sides 0; the cabinet and pivotally connected at their rear ends by means of hinges 15, 16 with the front edges of the flanges 11,

so as to be capable of swinging horizontally, an upright front wall 1'? rrangcd transversely at the front end of the cabinet and connected at one of its vertical edges with the i nt 0 e of side wall 14. by means of hinges 18 while its opposite vertical edge is detachaoly connected with the front edge of the other side wall 13 by means of a fasteng, for example, of a plurality of catches pivoted to the side wall 13 and engaging with eyes 20 on the front wall 17, and a top 21 which is preferably inclined for- Wardly and extends over the upper edges of the front, rear and side walls and the flanges of the rear wall and is pivotally connected at its rear edge with the upper edge of rear wall by ninges 22 or other suitable pivotal connection.

When this cabinet is in use the members of the same are. unfolded in the manner described and rest their lower ends on the floor of the room or other support, thereby forming a ectangular compartment which is adapted to ivc the body of the person taking a bath.

hile the person thus hing the necl: of the same pro ects throngs an opening 23 in the top ot the cabinet and the head thereof is above this top and if desired the escape of heat from the cabinet through the space be tween the ieclr of the person and the edge of the openi g may be restricted by means of a tie his collar 25; secured at its outer edge to the top 21 while its inner edge fits loo a; amd the neck of the person, as shown in Fig. 2. lVhile the person is taking a bath the desire for a drink which frequently occurs may be satisfied by reaching the top of the cabinet to permit of conveniently opening and closing the hand hole 25.

W hen the cabinet is not in use the top 21 is swung upwardly and downwardly so as to be arranged vertically along the outer side of the rear wall 10, the side wall 13 is swung backwardly across the front side of the rear 7 wall, the side wall 14; is swung across the outer side of the side wall 13 and the front wall 17 is swung along the outer side of the side wall 14, as shown in Fig. thereby producing a compact structure which can be readily stored away or transported.

While the person is occupying the bath compartment the same may sit on the seat 28 of a stool or chair arranged within the bath compartment. For promoting the comfort of a person while occupying the bath cabinet means are provided for supporting the arms of the person for which purpose two arm rests or shelves 29 are arranged on opposite sides of the person within the compartment, each of these shelves being preferably pivotally connected by means of hinges 30'to toe inner side of the respective side wall so that this shelf or rest may be either swung downwardly into a horizontally operative position, as shown by full lines in Fi gs. 2, 3, and 4 or the same may be swung upwardly into a vertical inoperative position against the innerside of the respective side wall, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, thereby rendering the same more compact when the cabinet is folded. This shelf or rest may be held in this folded position by one or more catches 60 secured to the inner side of the respective side wall and engaging with the upper edge of the shelf. In order to enable these shelves or rests 29 to properly support the arms of a per-' son and prevent the shelves from straining the hinges connecting the same with the side walls each of these shelves is provided with an upright brace 31 which is pivotally connected at its upper end by means of a hinge 32 with the under side of the shelf while the lower end of this brace is adapted to rest against the floor, as shown by full lines in Fig. 4. When, however, the shelf is not in use this brace folds against the under side of the shelf and toward the adjacent inner side of the respective side wall, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of enabling the person taking a bath to receive a steam treatment the following steam device is provided:

The numeral 33 represents an electrical heating element of any suitable character mounted in a bed 34 and normally adapted to be arranged underneath the seat of the chair or stool within the cabinet and heat a body of water which is contained in a pan or dish 35 arranged above the heater so that the steam which is generated thereby will rise and envelop the person taking a bath andthereby impart "o the latter the curative or exhilarating properties due to such treatment. This electric heating element and its bed are arranged within a dished reflector 36 which has its concave side facing upwardly so as to throw the heat of the element 33 in that direction and impart a maximum benefit to the person. This heating element may be supported for use in this position by any suitable means for example by means of a base 37 projecting downwardly from the underside of the reflector 36 and engaging ith the floor by means of an interposed cushion 38 of in sulating material which will prevent the floor from being scorched by the heat of the element 33. This vapor heater is so mounted within the cabinet that the same may be folded and take up less room when the cabinet is not in use. A foldable holder is provided consisting for e mple. of two arms 9 normally arranged horizontally within the lower part the compartment and rigidly connected at their front ends with the heater housing or 36 while the rear ends are p-ivotally ,onnccted with the rear wall 10 by means of a h'nge 39 so as to permit this heater either to e swung into ahorizontal operative position, as shown by full lines in Figs. 2, 3, and 8 and also to permit this heater to be folded t a vertical position against the inner side f the rear wall 10, as shown by full lines in s. 5 and 6. The vapor heater may be retained in this folded position by means of a turn button 40 arranged on the rear wall and engaging with a slotted lug 41 and a front edge of the vapor heater shell or housing 36, as shown in Figs?) and 6.

Means are provided for electrically heating the interior of the compartment for the purpose of imparting therapeutic effects to the person rin" the bath. These heating means preferably comprise three groups of lamps 42, 4.3, and as the two groups L2 43 being arranged in vertical rows adjacent to the rear corners of the cabinet between the rear and side walls thereoi and the group of lamps 4% being arranged in a vertical row on the inner side of the central part of the front wall 17. Each of these vertical rows of heating lamps is arranged within the concave side of a channel shaped reflector 45 i hich is normally arranged vert-ically and has its concave side facing inwardly toward the person taking a bath. Each of these trough shaped reflectors is pivotally connected at its upper end by means of a hinge 47 or other suitable means with the under side of the top 21 so that this reflector together with the lamps mounted thereon may be folded into a position parallel with the inner side of the top for rendering the cabinet more compact when it is desired to transport or store the same. In 2 these reflectors are arranged in their operative vertical position in which they depend from the top of a. I L 1 r61 QCLOl the cabinet andthe lamps thereof throw their heat toward the person within the cabinet.

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Upon swinging these reflectors toward the under side of the top, the lamps within the reflectors are protected by the reflectors which at this time form housings or shields thereof, thereby preventing the lamps from being injured inasmuch as the same during the folded position of the cabinet are arranged on the outer side thereof, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby insuring safety of the lamps while the cabinet is not in use. In the preferred con struction the rear set of lamps and their reflectors are' separated far enough apart so that the same may be folded forwardly and upwardly against the side portions of the top 21 while the front set of lamps and their reflectors may be swung rearwardly and upwardly against the central part of the top thereby avoiding interference between the several lamps and their reflectors and permitting of producing a compact assemblage of the same when the cabinet is folded.

If desired fastening means may be provided for holding the several lamps in their unfolded normal position while in use. Suitable means for this purpose consists of a catch 48 arranged on the front wall and engaging with a pin 49 on the front reflector l5 and two catches 50 arranged on the rear wall 10 and engaging with pins 51 on the rear reflectors.

For the purpose of holding the reflectors and their lamps secure in a folded position parallel with the under side of the top 21 fastening means are provided which in their preferred form consists of a cross bar 52 connecting the lower parts of the rear reflectors and two catches 58 arranged on the under side of the top and adapted to engage with the pins 51. When folding this cabinet the central front set of lamps is first swung upwardly and rearwardly against the under side of the top 521, then the two rear sets of lamps together 1 with their reflectors are swung forwardly and upwardly against the under side of the top 21 at which time a downwardly curved central part 54 on the bar 52 engages with the under side of the front reflector 45, as shown in Fig. 5 and then the catches 53 are engaged with the pins 51, thereby holding the several heating lamps in their folded position so that they are not liable to become displaced when the cabinet is moved about.

This folded position of the several parts of the cabinet is shown in Fig. 5 from which it clearly appears that the several walls and the topof the cabinet are arranged closely together, the electric heating lamps are folded against the top but protected against in ury by their reflectors, and the vapor heater is also folded against the inner side of the rear wall and protected by its reflector or housing against damage, thereby enabling the cabinet to be shipped or handled with comparative freedom without liability of injuring any of the parts thereof so that the cost of maintenance of the cabinet is reduced to a minimum. Aside from this the cabinetas a whole can be very easily unfolded for use as well as refront wall and a top which are adapted to be I folded and unfolded, and, means for heating said compartment comprising two rear reflectors pivoted on the underside of said top adjacent to the corners between said rear wall and said side walls, a front reflector pivoted on the central part of the top adjacent to said front wall, and electric lamps mounted on the concave sides of said reflectors, said re-.

flectors in their normal positions being unfolded and depending from said top and in their abnormal positions being folded and arranged parallel with said top, and said front reflector being arranged between and parallel with said rear reflectors'in the folded position of the same.

2. A bath cabinet comprising a compartment having a rear wall, two side walls, a front wall and a top which are adapted to be folded and unfolded, and means for heating said compartment comprising two rear reflectors pivoted on the underside of said top adjacent to the corners between said rear wall and said side walls, a front reflector pivoted on the central part of the top adjacent to said front wall, electric lamps mounted on the concave sides of said reflectors, said reflectors in their normal positions being unfolded and depending from said top and in their abnormal positions being folded and arranged parallel with said top, and said front reflector being arranged between and parallel with said rear reflectors in the folded position of the same and means for holding said reflectors in a folded position against said top comprising a cross bar connectin said rear reflectors and adapted to engage the rear side of said front reflector, and a catch arranged on said top and adapted to engage said cross bar.

ROBERT J. KIDENEY. 

